5 Ways to Maximise Your Credibility

If you want to charge premium rates for your programmes, you first have to become the go-to professional in your niche; the one clients absolutely have to work with, whatever it takes and however much it costs. It’s what I call ‘the Natural Expert’.

You’re probably already working towards that goal. You probably have been for some time.

If you’re not quite there yet, though, here’s how to kickstart your career.

Content Creation. The biggest thing you can do to grow your following and your credibility is to create content and get yourself ‘out there’. It’s called ‘ubiquity’: wherever a potential client turns they hear, read or see something by you, or they read, see or hear something about you. Blog posts, podcasts, ebooks, and self-paced training programs—whether paid or free—are the foundation of your empire. And if you want to be a top earner in your field, you have to put in the work to create a solid foundation.

Video. A lot of professionals struggle with video. Some hate the sound of their own voice. Others hate how they look on camera. If that’s you, get over it. If someone is going to invest $5,000, $20,000 or more in that high-end programme or service you’re putting together, they are going to have to get to know you better first, and video is the easiest way for them to do that. Get some new clothes, hire a video coach, and start sharing your expertise on YouTube and other video channels.

Write a Book. The 200-pound gorilla of content, a real, physical book—one that people can hold in their hands and turn the pages of—will skyrocket your credibility and launch—or relaunch—the rest of your professional career.

I’m not talking about Kindle books here (although they do have a place in your overall content strategy). I want you to publish a printed book. It’s easier than you think, as I discussed in my book Authority!: How Experts Just Like You Are Using Authority Books To Grow Their Influence, Raise Their Fees And Steal Your Clients!

Speaking. Nothing screams “I’m an expert” quite like taking the stage and speaking in front of a group. If you’re already attracting the attention of event organizers and getting invitations to speak, good for you. If you’ve been asked, and you turned down the opportunity, it’s time to build your confidence and take the leap. If you haven’t, then get out there and find opportunities that are a good fit. Start small if you need to—at your local Chamber of Commerce or a recurring Meetup group—but look for big stages, too, and be open for the chance to wow a crowd with your expertise.

Host a Live Event. If you want to really blow your audience away with your expertise and skills, then plan and host a live event. It doesn’t have to be huge—a small, intimate venue is often a better choice—but start making plans now. People who host live event are often seen as the real movers and shakers in their industries. Mostly because they are!

Finally, remember that no matter what approach you take to boosting your authority, it will only work if people hear about it. If you start a podcast, market it. If you step onto a stage—whatever size it is—shout about it from the rooftops. If you write a book, launch it.

Credibility and visibility go hand in hand. Whatever you can do to get the word out about your achievements, go do it.